South Sudan's leader Salva Kiir has said he will not lead his people back into conflict with the north over the disputed region of Abyei.
The region, seized by northern troops at the weekend, is also claimed by South Sudan, which is due to become independent from the north in July.
"We will not go back to war, it will not happen," Mr Kiir said in his first public statement since trouble began.
Analysts fear the dispute could reignite the north-south conflict.
A peace deal in 2005 ended 22 years of civil war in which some 1.5 million people died.
The status of Abyei was left undecided and a referendum, due last January, on whether the area should be part of the north or south has been postponed indefinitely.
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